Running Away from Marriage, Leaving Deception Behind — Novel

About

On the eve of her wedding, Hazel Bell makes a desperate call to her mother: “I want to call off the wedding.” What should have been the happiest moment of her life shatters when she discovers the man she has loved for a decade has betrayed her in the most intimate way possible. With her dreams of a fairy tale romance turned to ashes, Hazel finds herself alone, grappling with the weight of betrayal and heartbreak.

Ambrose Wright, the charming heir she believed was her forever, is entwined with her stepsister, Scarlett—an unyielding reminder of the torment Hazel has endured for years. As she watches them from a distance, her heart breaks further, igniting a flame of determination within her. Can she reclaim her life from the shadows of deception that have haunted her? Or will the love she once cherished prove too powerful to let go?

In a world where loyalty is a facade and betrayal lurks around every corner, Hazel must confront the painful truths of her past while forging a new path for herself. Will she find the strength to rise from the ashes of her shattered dreams, or will the ties of family and first love pull her back into a life of heartache?

Running Away from Marriage, Leaving Deception BehindBOOK1-Chapter 1

"Mom, I want to call off the wedding."

On the eve of her wedding, Hazel Bell called her mother, who was thousands of miles away overseas.

Her mother paused, stunned for a moment, but didn’t press her with questions; she knew her daughter all too well.

With a calm and reassuring tone, she readily agreed, "Alright. I’m getting older anyway, and this business will end up in your hands sooner or later. The sooner you come, the sooner you can adjust."

Hazel responded with a light laugh, masking the ache in her chest. But her eyes betrayed her, drifting toward the bridal suite.

Through the dim light filtering from the window, she could make out the shadows of two entwined figures; one was her fiancé, and the other, her stepsister.

She fought desperately to keep her composure, but her voice betrayed her, trembling with the faint trace of a sob.

Her mother sighed softly, a weight of shared pain in her words.

"I thought he was different. I didn’t expect him to walk the same path as your father and me. It’s alright, Hazel. You’re still young. I’ll be here waiting for you."

After a few quiet words, they ended the call.